K. Blake Horne, Ph.D.

President & CEO

Blake Horne is President and CEO of Embrace Alabama Kids. After earning his doctorate in marriage and family therapy from Florida State University and becoming a licensed therapist, he completed three years of postdoctoral study at the Georgetown Family Center in Washington D.C. and served as the Executive Director of The Samaritan Counseling Center in Montgomery, Alabama for 12 years. Although passionate about providing direct delivery of clinical services, Dr. Horne found his calling in leading organizations to serve their mission. In 2012, Dr. Horne joined the Embrace Alabama Kids team to help lead it in its mission to embrace and nurture vulnerable children and families by providing homes, healing and hope. As President and CEO of Embrace Alabama Kids, Dr. Horne also provides leadership and guidance to the Embrace Florida Kids executive leadership team in Northwest Florida.

Kristin Alberda, MSW, LICSW

Sr. VP of Operations

Originally joining the team in 2006, Kristin Alberda is the Senior Vice President of Programs for Embrace Alabama Kids and the Executive Director of Embrace Florida Kids. Kristin is tasked with ensuring that all programs—from Embrace Alabama Kids programs in Alabama to Embrace Florida Kids programs in Northwest Florida—meet or exceed strict local, state and federal standards or requirements. Additionally, Kristin leads the accreditation process for all programs to ensure compliance and best practices. A child welfare advocate for 21 years, Kristin earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of West Florida and her master’s degree in social work from Florida State University. She is a licensed and independent clinical social worker and maintains her Child Welfare Supervisor and Child Welfare Licensing Professional certifications.

Lori Foreman, LICSW

Director of Programs

Lori Foreman, LICSW, is the Director of Programs for Embrace Alabama Kids and oversees the agency’s foster care, family preservation, and school readiness programs, as well as Mary Ellen’s Hearth, which equips single mothers experiencing homelessness to live independently with their children. A graduate of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College and the University of Mobile, she earned a master’s in social work from Florida State University. A wife and mother, she has spent her entire career at Embrace Alabama Kids and has served in a variety of roles.

Amanda S. Freeman, CPA, CGMA

Chief Financial Officer

Amanda S. Freeman joined Embrace Alabama Kids as the Chief Financial Officer in 2019. Amanda served as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations for the Alabama Society of CPAs for 10 years. Prior to that she was a Senior Accountant with a public accounting firm for 4 years where she directed non-profit audits. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Global Management Accountant, and a graduate of Troy University with Bachelor and MBA degrees, summa cum laude. Most importantly, Amanda has a heart for ministry to children and looks forward to applying her considerable accounting skills in ways that bring hope and greater opportunity to the vulnerable children and families we serve.

Rebecca Morris

Sr. VP of External Affairs

Rebecca Morris is the Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Embrace Alabama Kids a ministry of UMCH and loves sharing the stories of the children, youth and families whose lives have been changed by the ministry.

An accomplished speaker, she has introduced UMCH to Sunday School classes, congregations, civic organizations and audiences of numerous television and radio shows, both locally and nationally. After earning a bachelor’s degree in human environmental sciences from the University of Alabama, Rebecca previously served in community relations for the Alabama Hospital Association. At UMCH, she oversees church and donor relations, special events, marketing and public relations. One of her favorite parts of the job, however, is getting to know and mentor the youth and serving alongside them during mission trips.

Rebecca is a native of Montgomery but has called Birmingham home for 20+ years. She and her husband, Ben, have three boys ages 18, 16 and 15. The Morris Family consider Embrace Alabama Kids to be a family ministry.

Janet Rawls, LICSW

Vice President of Programs

Janet Rawls, LICSW, is Vice President of Programs for Embrace Alabama Kids/United Methodist Children’s Home. She manages a broad spectrum of programs that provide safe, loving homes for vulnerable children and youth and equip at-risk families with the necessary skills and resources to remain together. A graduate of Millersville University, Janet earned a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in macro practices at Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to her critical work at Embrace Alabama Kids, she has provided social work and counseling services through a variety of organizations including the Virginia Department of Corrections, the Mobile County Health Department, and the U.S. Department of Defense.